Official Airline

Official Motorcoach
Transportation

Presents

Featured Speakers & Presenters

Featured Speaker – Barbara Jaworski

Barbara Jaworski is CEO and Chief KAA-Boomer of the Workplace Institute, a leading think tank on talent in the workplace, and author of two books on older workers: KAA-Boom: How to Engage the 50-Plus Worker and Beat the Workforce Crisis; and Rebel Retirement: A KAA-Boomer’s Guide to Living and Creating an Explosive Second Act. She is the creator of the KAA-Booming Strategy Program helping organizations utilize the total talent pool as well as helping KAA-Boomers understand and ignite their future.

Ms. Jaworski is the founder of the "Best Employers Award for 50-Plus Canadians". It rewards trailblazing organizations that use innovative practices to attract, engage and retain their mature workers, and judge on the US-based World at Work Work-Life Innovation Excellence Award.

Ms. Jaworski created many of the programs available in over 3000 organizations across the country. She has an intimate knowledge of what KAA-Boomers are looking for help with.

In addition to her keynote addresses, Ms. Jaworski regularly appears in the media speaking on behalf of boomers and the organizations that hire boomers, and is recognized as a leading expert on baby boomers.

In her spare time she volunteers with not-for-profit organizations helping them with strategic planning and marketing and has recently assisted the Pride Network, Vietnamese Women’s Association, Islamic Women Association, Ontario Association of Senior Citizen Organizations, Durham Elder Abuse Network and Humber Community Services. She is a board member of the Ontario Gerontology Association.

Featured Speaker - Dr. Susan McDaniel

Dr. Susan A. McDaniel is an internationally known sociologist / social demographer with active research interests in social policy and global issues. Her current focus is on life course, demographic aging, health / well-being, health care, generational relations, family change, and international migration. In 2009, she joined the University of Lethbridge, faculty of Sociology (with tenured status). She also became the first Chairperson of the University’s Prentice Institute on Global Population and Economy. The Institute is a multi-disciplinary, cross-faculty organization dedicated to researching the long-term global impacts of demographic, economic and social issues on world populations.

The Prentice Institute provides information and contributes to the development of policy options to help guide Canadians and their governments in addressing some of the difficult challenges facing society. These challenges, specific to senior citizens, include the provision of medical care services and programs, their implications on society, and the economic challenges associated with an aging populations, including unsustainable pension programs. The Institute also researches the social and global impacts of food security, water scarcity and irrigation, and public policy issues affecting Aboriginal peoples.

Dr. McDaniel has been a Professor of Sociology at the Universities of Alberta and Waterloo, and in 2007 - 09 she was Senior Investigator and Professor at the Institute of Public and International Affairs, University of Utah. At the University of Alberta, Dr. McDaniel holds the honored lifetime title of “Distinguished University Professor”.

She is a “Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada” (the highest honour Canada bestows for academic achievement and excellence), and is the recipient of many research and teaching awards, including "The University Cup" from the University of Alberta. She is author of eight books and research monographs, and over 190 research articles and book chapters. She is a frequent keynote speaker at national and international conferences. She is also a regular advisor to the governments in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. In this consulting role, she focuses upon social statistics, social policies, science / technology and innovation policies, and on official data collection. She has served for many years on the National Statistics Council of Canada, and has chaired the Demographic Statistics Advisory Committee as well as the Science and Technology Advisory Committee at Statistics Canada. She is the only social scientist to be appointed to the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Canadian Council of Academies, and serves as Vice-Chair of that Committee.

Dr. McDaniel is a “Principal Investigator” on a study of Inequalities in Canada and the U.S. in relation to later life health risks, and “Co-Investigator” on two research projects funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (one on social engagement, and one on mid-life issues).

Honourable Fred Horne

MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford
Minister of Health

The Honourable Fred Horne was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Rutherford on April 23, 2012. He was appointed as Minister of Health by Premier Alison Redford on May 8, 2012. He had served as Minister of Health and Wellness since October 2011. He also served as a member of the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Health & Safety, and on the Alberta Treasury Board. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Health.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Horne worked as a health policy consultant for over 25 years. He worked in public, private and not-for-profit sectors. His experiecnce included service with various government bodies and regional health authorities.

Throughout his career Mr. Horne has led initiatives to improve access and quality in Canadian public health care, and has worked extensively with the Conference Board of Canada, the Alberta Government, and the Mayo Clinic.

Mr. Horne holds a master of business administration degree from Royal Roads University and a postgraduate certification in dispute resolution from York University.

Honourable George VanderBurg

MLA for Whitecourt - Ste. Anne
Associate Minister of Seniors

George VanderBurg was elected to his fourth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne on April 23, 2012, and appointed Associate Minister of Seniors on May 8, 2012. Since 2006, he has served as Minister of Government Services, Acting Minister of Innovation and Science, and Minister of Seniors and Community Supports.

Prior to becoming the MLA for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne in 2001, Associate Minister VanderBurg served 15 years in municipal politics. He served as the Mayor of Whitecourt for almost nine years and spent six as a Town Councillor.

Over the years, Associate Minister VanderBurg was an active Rotarian, and he and his wife, Liz, were successful owners and operators of various businesses in northern Alberta. He was President of the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce and is a recipient of the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce President’s Award. Associate Minister VanderBurg has also been named Whitecourt’s Citizen of the Year, and been awarded the Alberta Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award.